When were backpacks invented?

A:

Quick Answer

Hunters have long used packs to help carry loads, but the term "backpack" wasn't coined until the early 1900s. Dick Kelty invented the modern backpack in 1957 in order to help carry hiking gear. This backpack had an external frame.

Keep Learning

The internal-frame backpack, which is used to carry heavier loads, was invented in 1967 by Greg Lowe. Backpacks were commonly used in hiking in the 1970s. In 1975, apparel company Jansport introduced its first backpack which was to be specifically used for daily activities, called a daypack. Jansport's introduction of the daypack led to students carrying their books in backpacks.